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HoUinger Corp. 
pH8.5 



THE 



Fibre Bearing Plants 



OF 



FLORIDA 



BEING A DESCRIPTION OF 

THE AGAVA SISALANA SANSIVIERIA, BROMELIA 
SYLVESTRIS, PINEAPPLE, URENA LOB ATA 
AND RAMIE PLANTS. TOGETHER WITH 
IWETHODS OF PROPAGATION, CUL- 
TIVATION AND EXTRACTION 
OF THE FIBRES. 

BY 

CHARLKS ^V. :E^ARS0NS. 



PUBLISHED AND ISSUED 



plant S ystem 



SAVANNAH, GA.: 

THE MORNING NEWS PRINT. 
1895. 



The Associated Railway Land Department of Florida, under 
whose auspices this treatise is published, would call the attention 
of those who may become interested, to the fact that we own and 
control large bodies of land in Florida, peculiary adapted and well 
located for the growing of fibre plants. 

For maps, plats, prices and terms, address, 

D. H. Elliott, General Land Agent. 
Sanford, Florida. 

By taransft r 
N 8 '06 



SB 



^1 



T3 



Tlie Fibre Beaplng Plants 



OF 



FLORIDA. 



IltTTIE^OIDTJOTIOIsr. 



The fibre-bearing plants capable of successful and 
profitable cultivation in the State of Florida are in great 
variety, and comprise nearly all the fibres, or a substitute 
for them, now imported into the United States, which 
amount, in round numbers, to $50,000,000 annually. 

The United States is now a larger consumer of long 
fibres for handling the cotton crop and its products than 
all the rest of the world. 

The United States is a larger consumer of long fibre 
for handling the grain crop and its products than all the 
v/orld together. 

The United States is the largest consumer of long fibre 
(in twine) for harvesting the grain crop than all the other 
countries of the globe. 

The conditions of soil, temperature, humidity and reg- 
ular supply of moisture in Florida, fully warrant the grow- 
ing of the plants, producing these fibres, in a higher degree 
of perfection than any other country on the globe where 
they are now cultivated. The cultivation of these plants 
and repeated experiments made with them in Florida, with 
some embracing a period of nearly sixty years, fully war- 
rant this assertion. 

The annual importations of wool and its manufactures 
into this country amounts to over $60,000,000, while of silk 
and silk goods about |20,000,000 worth are imported each 
year. 



A plant that grows luxuriantly in Florida, produces a 
beautiful, tine fibre, that will largely take the place of both 
wool and silk, and used as an admixture with them, add 
materially to the value aud elegance of the textiles now 
made from them. 

Of flax and its manufactures over |20,000,000 worth 
are annually imported into the United States. Fibres in 
every way superior to ttax, and that will entirely substitute 
it in all its numufactures, can be produced in Florida at 
less than one-half the cost of ])roducing llax, and in the 
opinion of competent authorities, when the extensive culti- 
vation of these fibres shall be taken up, they will entirely 
supplant fiax and stop its cultivation. 

The question naturally arises: If Florida is the perfect 
habitat of fibre-bearing plants in such great variety, aud 
they can be so successfully grown, why has an industry of 
such vital importance to the State and the country at large 
been so long neglected? 

The reason is obvious. The want of successful decorti- 
cating machinery to extract the fibre from the plants at a 
cost to compete with the cheap labor employed in the great 
fibre-producing countries of the world. To produce such 
machinery has for .years baffled the inventor's skill, and it 
is only within a comparatively recent date that this im- 
portant problem has been thoroughly solved. Efficient and 
successful machinery is now availal)le, that produces fibre 
in the most perfect and finished condition, from the agaves 
and allied species of leaf fibre-bearing plants, and at a 
minimum cost, decorticaters and processes have also been 
devised that inexpensively produce the wonderful ramie 
fibre. 

With this improved machinery and the intelligent labor 
that would be employed, Florida can now successfully com 
pete with India, Mauritius, the I'hillipine Islands, China 
aud Yucatan in the ])roduction of fibres. 

The farmers of Florida have now the option of adding 
other profitable crops to the long list of those being culti- 
vated in the State. The prospective immigrant, seeking a 
more genial clime in which to prosecute his husbandry, has 
the assurance that the cultivation of fibre plants will be 
found not only profitable, but attended with less difficulties 
and anxiety, than tlie crops of a more rigorous latitude. 
While to the capitalist seeking for large investments, the 
production of fibres in Florida offers unexceptionable in- 
ducements for the profitable investment of capital. A care- 
ful investigation into all the details of the industry will con- 
vince the most skeptical that the business must prove highly 
remunerative and satisfactory. 



It is the purpose of this pamphlet to consider in the 
following pages the different fibre plants susceptible of 
profitable cultivation in Florida, under different heads, in as 
brief and explicit a manner as possible, giving a description 
of the x^lants, methods of propagation, cultivation and ex- 
traction of the fibres, together with descriptions of decorti- 
cating machinery and notes regarding the fibre industry 
in other countries. 




FLORIDA HEMP. 

OR AGAVE RIGIDA VAR. SISALANA. 

A better and more extended knowledge prevails regard- 
ing the above leaf fibre plant than any other growing in 
Florida, for the reason that it has been growing in the State 
for a longer duration of time, and more has been said and 
written in relation to it. 

This plant is commonly known as the Sisal Hemp plant, 
and also as Henequen, which is the Mexican term for it. 
It is found growing in nearly every part of Peninsular 
Florida south of the 29th degree of latitude, and frequently 
matures and "poles" as far north as Jacksonville. 

INTRODUCTION INTO FLORIDA. 

This plant was introduced into Florida in the years 
1836 and 1837, by Dr. Henry Perrine, and to this peculiar 
species of the Agave Rigida he gave the name Sisalana. 
Dr. Perrine had been American Consul at Campeachy and 
had obtained a grant of land from the United States Gov- 
ernment on Biscayne Bav for introduction of tropical plants 
into the United States. 

At the time of the introduction of the plant into Florida, 
the Seminole Indian War was raging, and Dr. Perrine 
placed the plants on Indian and Metacombe Keys, in nursery 
form, intending, when hostilities should cease and peace 
become restored, to transfer them to his grant on Biscayne 
Bay. He was not, however, permitted to carry his designs 
into execution, for the Indians invaded the Keys and he was 
slain in August, 1840, in the historical Indian Key massacre. 
The plants, however, have survived and multiplied abund- 
antly, and are now found growing on nearly all the Florida 
Keys and many parts of the main land, in a wild, uncultiva- 
ted state, in dense impenetrable thickets. 

CULTIVATION ALREADY BEGUN. 

The cultivation of the plant has been taken up to a 
limited extent in several ])laces in Florida. At Jupiter, on 
Indian River, and near Juno, at the north end of Lake 
Worth, are several tracts of fine plants in cultivation. At 
New River is a plantation with some fifty acres in cultiva- 
tion. On Boca Chica Key, Mr. Geo. H. Bier, of Key West, 



has a fine plantation of considerable extent. In 1887-'89 
the industry received some impetus through Mr. D. P. Bur- 
don, who had invented a machine for the decortication of 
the fibre, and several tracts were placed in cultivation in 
Orange County, but 'Mr. Burdon's invention not proving an 
entire success, the enterprise was abandoned. Enough has 
been done in the line, however, to demonstrate this fact, 
that the plant thrives, when cultivated in Florida, in a 
higher degree of perfection and luxuriance than elsewhere 
in the world where cultivated. 

YUCATAN ONLY SOURCE OF SUPPLY. 

Yucatan has, for a long term of years, supplied the 
world with its fibre from the leaves of the Agave Rigida, 
the sisal hemp of commerce, and its production has become 
a great source of wealth to that country. The United States, 
being the largest consumer of this variety of hemp, pur- 
chases over 80 per cent, of the entire production of Yucatan, 
amounting in some years to 35,000 tons. 

So jealously has Yucatan guarded its hemp industry, 
that a stringent prohibitory law exists against the exporta- 
tion of plants from that country. 

SUPERIORITY OF FLORIDA HEMP OVER THAT OF 
YUCATAN. 

The Sisal plant, as cultivated in Yucatan, differs mate- 
rially from that found growing in Florida. In the former 
country the leaves are armed with sharp spines on the edge, 
while the Florida variety is smooth. Yucatan hemp is rarely 
seen over three feet in length, is coarse in texture and of a 
dingy yellow appearance, while Florida hemp will easily 
average 4^ feet in length, is much finer, perfectly white and 
possesses far greater strength. 

HEMP INDUSTRY IN THE BAHAMAS. 

During the past six years the cultivation of Sisal Hemp 
has been extensively taken up in the Bahama Islands, and 
through the heroic exertions of Sir Ambrose Shea, Governor 
of the Colony, the industry has assumed large proportions, 
nnd many thousand acres are now in cultivation. English 
capital, which is proverbially quick to discover every oppor- 
1 unity for profitable investment, has been largely directed 
into this industry; and in this connection it is a significant 
fact, that the Right Honorable Joseph Chamberlain, one of 
the leaders in the British Parliament, has 5,000 acres under 
successful cultivation in Sisal Hemp in the Island of Andros, 
Ihe largest of the group, and he and his sons are now prepar- 
ing to take up and cultivate 5,000 acres more. 



8 

The production of liemp is now the chief industry of 
the Bahamas, and it bids fair to be many times greater. The 
Bahamians are indebted to Florida for their ability to take 
up the cultivation of the Agave Sisalana, for it was from 
this State thej^ were enabled to procure their plants, which 
could have been obtained from no other source, and the 
name, Sisal Hemp, as given to fibre from plants having their 
origin in Florida, is a misnomer. Respecting this, there ap- 
pears in United States Department of Agriculture Fibre 
Report No. 5, the following: 

"If regard be had to strict accuracy, the name Florida 
Hemp should be given to the smooth-leaved variety grown 
in the Bahamas, and also in Florida, as the larger propor- 
tion of the plants now growing on the Bahamian Islands 
were brought from Florida by the schooner load in very re- 
cent years." 

The Bahamian Government also has a prohibitory law 
against the exportation of plants from that Colony. 

FLORIDA THE ONLY SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR 
PLANTS. 

Mr. Geo. H. Bier, of Key West, has shipped large quan- 
tities of plants to Honolulu, Hawaii, and when the political 
state of that countrv shall have become more settled, is to 
ship many more. Orders have been recently received for 
plants from the Fiji Islands, and also from Calcutta. From 
all this, it would appear that Florida is the only source of 
supply for plants of the Agave Sisalana for the whole uni- 
verse, and the conditions may seem peculiar that this State 
is not producing any of the fibre. 

SOIL. 

The Agave Sisalana will grow and thrive in nearly 
every variety of Florida soils, and the idea is advanced by 
many that the poorest of soils is^best adapted to the cultiva- 
tion of the plant for fibre, for while a more rapid growth of 
leaves might be obtained in a rich soil, the percentage of 
fibre would be less. A large proportion of the lands in cul- 
tivation in the Bahamas are Avorn out pineapple lands, that 
had become exhausted and incapable of ni'oducing profita- 
ble crops of that fruit. The lands on which Sisal Hemp is 
cultivated in Yucatan are sterile rockv barrens, on which 
probably no other crop could be grown with profit. In com- 
menting on this question of soils, Mr. Chas. Richards Dodge 
has the following, on page 21 of United States Department 
of Agriculture Fibre Report No. 5: 



"I should say that from all I have been able to learn 
there are thousands of acres of better Sisal Hemp land in 
South Florida than in the fibre-producing district of Yu- 
catan." i I 

The Agave Sisalana is largely an air plant, and derives 
its sustenance from the atmosohere in the form of bacteria, 
as with luguminous plants, cowpeas, peanuts, etc. This, 
no doubt, explains why the plant is capable of producing 
such an enormous yield of leaves in a barren soil without 
fertilization. 

LIFE OF THE PLANT xVND PROPAGATION. 

The life of the plant in Florida, when allowed to grow 
undisturbed, without any cutting of the leaves, has been 
found to be about seven years, when it "poles," flowers, puts 
out 2.000 or more minute plants, known as "pole plants," 
and dies. These tiny plants are very tenacious of life, and 
when sufficiently matured, drop from the stalk or pole to 
the ground, and readily root and grow. The principal and 
best method of propagating the Agave Sisalana is by pole 
plants. Suckers, which are constantly starting up from 
the roots of old plants, is another source of supply for 
plants. 

PROFITABLE YIELDING LIFE OF THE PLANT. 

The profitable yielding life of the plant in Yucatan is 
from 15 to 20 years. The leaves attain a sufficient length 
to cut for fibre after the third year. The leaves are con- 
stantly unfolding and are cut each month in the year, and 
afford a, perpetual crop. On large plantations the produc- 
tion of fibre never ceases, but is carried on every day of the 
year. The leaves can be cut, the fibre extracted and placed 
in the bale the same day. 

Cutting the leaves of the plant retards the poling and 
prolongs the life of the plant. It is presumably the condi- 
tions that exist in Yucatan are equally applicable to 
Florida, and the yielding life of the plant would be the same 
in both countries, 15 to 20 years. 

CULTIVATION. 

The cultivation of the Agave Sisalana is very simple 
and inexpensive. The setting of the plants is almost ident- 
ical with that of pineapple slips, the plants are placed in 
rows at stated distances apart, with occasional avenues 
left wide enough to drive through when gathering the leaves. 
During the first two years occasional weedings, once or 
twice a year, is all that is necessary. The plants are then 



10 

large enough to shade the cround and no further cultiva- 
tion will be required. 

It is the custom in Yucatan to set 1,200 to 1,400 plants 
to the acre, but this would be found altogether too great a 
number with the Florida variety of plant, which grow to 
a much larger size; 700 plants to the acre has been found 
the number, with this variety, in the Bahamas to insure best 
results and preclude the danger of the plants colliding and 
injuring each other with the sharp spines found in the end 
of the leaves. 

YIELD. 

The leaves of mature plants in Florida, when in a state 
of cultivation, will easily average five feet in length and two 
pounds in weight. The closest observations have shown 
that fifty leaves will unfold each year, and that number can 
be cut and relied upon as the annual crop. Witli 700 plants 
to the acre, this attords a yield of 35,000 leaves, or 70,000 
pounds, per acre each vear. Numerous experiments with 
Florida leaves, made with the recently invented and latest 
improved decdrticators, has shown the yield of long fibre 
to average about 4 ner cent, of the leaves, or 80 pounds to 
the 1,000 leaves. This would give a yield of 2,800 pounds 
of long dry fibre to the acre. It is claimed, however, that 
better results than the above are obtained, M'ith freshly 
cut leaves. With the new fibre cleaners, the amount of waste 
or short fibre has been reduced to the minimum and 
amounts to a mere trifle, as compared with the old methods 
in vogue for cleaning leaf fibres. 

PRICES AND IMPORTATIONS. 

The annual circular issued by Wm. S. Daland, of New 
York, a statement of the dealings in hemps and jute, shows 
that on the first days of January from 1885 to 1895 inclusive, 
the price of Sisal Hemp to have averaged cents per pound. 
The imixu'talions into the Ignited States from Yucatan dur- 
ing 1894 amounted to 357,977 bales, or nearly 144,000,000 
pounds. Notwithstanding the general depression that per- 
vaded industries of all descriptions, this was a larger 
amount than ever im])orted in any previous year. The im- 
portations of Manila Hemp into the United States in 1894 
amounted to 300,000 bales, or 120,000,000 pounds; this hemp 
usually sells for about two cents in advance of the Yucatan 
variety. It is everywhere admitted that the Florida variety 
of hemi) is finer, sti'onger, more durable, of better strength 
and color, and in every res])e('t su])erior to the Yucatan 
product, and manufacturers agree that in open market it 



11 

will undoubtedly bring at least two cents per pound more 
than Yucatan hemp, or at a price nearly equal with Manila. 

COST OF PRODUCTION. 

The cost of cultivation with the Agave Sisalana is in- 
expensive and amounts to but little or nothing after the 
plants are once established, as they will in a short time take 
care of themselves. The chief expense in producing the com- 
mercial article is in harvesting the leaves, extracting the 
fibre and placing it in the bale ready for market. A gentle- 
man who has had many years of experience in the produc- 
tion of fibres, being thoroughly familiar with the industry 
as conducted in Yucatan, and having large interests in the 
Bahamas, and who is considered an authority on everything 
that pertains to the fibre industry, makes the following 
statement in regard to the cost of producing hemp: "This 
fact can be relied upon, with the improved decorticating 
machinery now available, the entire cost of gathering the 
leaves and preparing the fibre in the bale, will not cost to 
exceed one-fourth cent per pound, but of course will vary 
with facilities and location." 

MACHINERY. 

Several automatic leaf fibre cleaning machines have 
been invented during the past five years, and all have shown 
more or less merit. One Datented in November, 1892, and 
manufactured by J. C. Todd, of 203 Broadway, New York, 
and Paterson, N. J., is meeting with great success and is 
considered as near perfection as it is possible to construct 
a machine of this nature. Mr. Todd's works are taxed to 
their utmost capacity the present year (1895) to supply the 
large demand for them in the Bahamas, where they are 
meeting with great favor. This machine is altogether au- 
tomatic in its work and is capable of cleaning in the 'most 
perfect manner .50.000 to 00,000 leaves of the Agave Sisalana 
in a. dav of ten hours. The operation of the machine is as 
follows: ' ' i ! 'I'^'Ti^wri^ 

The operator seats himself before the table and lays the 
leaves on the feeding chains. Care is taken to lay the thick 
ends of the leaves to the riaht side, with more than half the 
length of the leaf hanging down. The chains then carry the 
loaves to the holding belts, by which they are presented to 
tlie first scraping wheel. The leaves having been cleaned 
for the greater part of their length by the first wheel, a de- 
vise placed between the two scraping wheels transfers the 
clean portion of the fibre to the second holding belt, and the 
remainder is cleaned by the 'second wheel. There is no uii- 



12 

cleaned or partially cleaned portions left in the middle of the 
leaf, as in the case with some other machines. The fibre is 
delivered from the machine straight and disentangled, 
cleaned from the pulp of the leaves in the most thorough 
manner with a minimum amount of waste, yielding an aver- 
age of about 4 7-8 per cent, of clean dry fibre. The shipping 
weight of the machine is about G^ tons and 12 to 15 horse 
power is required to operate it. 

The following letter from Sir Ambrose Shea, Governor 
of the Bahamas, and originator of the hemp industry in 
that Colony, will show the esteem in which the Todd decor- 
ticator is held, and that the question of efficient machinery 
may well be considered settled: 

Government House, Bahamas. 
June 11th, 1894. 
MR. FINIGAN: 

Dear Sir — I have great pleasure in stating that my very 
careful examination of the scutching machine of J. C. Todd, 
now in successful operation at the plantation of Mr. Menen- 
dez, satisfies me that it efficiently meets all the require- 
ments of our fibre industry. Its movements are easy and 
very effective, and it turns out the fibre in fine condition 
with the minimum amount of waste. After our repeated 
failures to obtain the machine we required, it is most satis- 
factory to me to know that we now have one that from its 
undoubted excellence must come into universal use in this 
Colony. 

Yours verv truly, 

A. SHEA. 

INVESTIGATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE. 

The late Hon. J. H. Rusk, while Secretary of Agricult- 
ure, was deeply interested in the promotion of the cultiva- 
tion of the Agave Sisalana and other leaf fibre ])lants in 
Florida, and through his instrumentality INTr. Chas. Richards 
Dodge, special agent in charge of Fibre Investigations in 
the Department, was enable to spend portions of two win- 
ters in Florida, conducting a series of exhaustive investiga- 
tions and experiments with the various leaf fibre plants 
found growing in the vState. The results of these investiga- 
tions are embodied in two reports by Mr. Dodge and pub- 
lished by the Department of Agriculture and known as 
Fibre Investigations, Reports Numbers '^ and 5. The fibre 
industry mav, howevei-, be conducted in Florida at the pres- 
ent time und(M* fai' more favoi-abh* aus])ices than when these 
I'eports were published, for the reason that the question of 
cheap decortication is now settled. 



13 

In the report of the Secretary of Agriculture for 1892, 
the hist issued by Kusk, appears the following in regard 
to the fibre investigations conducted by the Department: 

"Early in the year the special agent in charge of the 
work spent some time in Florida, where an experimental 
cleaning factory was temporarily established and was suc- 
cessful in obtaining sufficient quantities of Sisal Hemp, 
the fibre of the False Sisal, Bowstring Hemp, Pineapple Fi- 
bre, etc., for manufacture and test to show their commer- 
cial value. The plantations of Sisal Hemp from plants fur- 
nished by the Department are growing finely and there is 
considerable interest in the culture. This is a product 
largely raised in, and exported from Yucatan. It is one sup- 
I)ly, in large degree, of material for cordage and binding 
twine. It was supposed that it could not be raised in. this 
country, but it is fast becoming demonstrated that it can be 
successfully produced in South Florida. The southern half 
of this State has wonderful possibilities in store for it, not 
only relating to fibres, but to sugar cane and semi-tropical 
fruits. The production of fibres is not the least of its possi- 
bilities. Even if the fibre inquiry should proceed no further, 
sufficient data have been collected to w^arrant us in the be- 
lief that experience and appropriate legislation will save to 
the country many millions of dollars now expended in the 
purchase of commodities abroad which might be produced at 
home." 

In Fibre Investigations, Report No. 3, published by the 
Department of Agriculture in 1891, Mr. Dodge has the fol- 
lowing regarding Sisal Hemp in Florida: 

"The plant producing this fibre which for so many years 
has been a source of wealth to Yucatan, and is fast becom- 
ing of commercial importance to the Bahamas, grows in 
niany portions of Florida, where its cultivation long ago 
passed the experimental stage. The literature of the sub- 
ject as it relates to the culture of the plant in our own 
country is quite extensive, enough having been published, 
even as Tar back as the fifties, to prove the adaptability of 
both soil and climate of Florida to its successful cultiva- 
tion." 

The foregoing, from such eminent and impartial au- 
thorities, should be received with much credence, and it 
makes still more conclusive the evidence that the condi- 
tions existing in Florida, are everything that could be de- 
sired for the successful cultivation of the Agave Sisalana. 

NO ENEMIES. 

This is a plant that has no destructive enemies, there is 
no animal or insect parasite that preys upon it. It is un- 



14 

affected by droughts and inundations and a constant crop 
is assured under all conditions of weather, and the income 
may be as regular as the production. The yielding life of 
the plant covers a long term of years without any replant- 
ing. It requires no fertilization, and, as has been shown, 
little or no cost for cultivation after once well established. 

THE PRODUCT NOT PERISHABLE. 

Hemp from this plant is a product that does not dete- 
riorate by age, as is the case with nearly all other cultivated 
crops, as cereals, fruits, vegetables, etc., that must be mar- 
keted at stated seasons to escape loss from decay and cli- 
matic changes; but it may be holden for improved markets 
for any duration of time, if properly housed, without any 
depreciation in value. 

INEXPENSIVELY PRODUCED. 

In producing this hemp no large and expensive plants 
of machinery, to depreciate by wear, are necessary; one 
decorticator is capable of performing the work for a large 
plantation, and properly cared for, with occasional replacing 
of the parts most subjected to wear, will last for a long 
term of years. 

The following assertion has been made by a most qual- 
ified authority, Mr. T. Alber Smith, of Baltimore, that: "Yu- 
catan has to-day, got the most profitable, the safest, and 
easiest managed industry in America." With all the data 
and facts relating to the industry obtainable, it would ap- 
pear that the foregoing statement need not be looked upon 
as an exaggeration or overdrawn. 

ADVANTAGES FOUND IN FLORIDA OVER YUCATAN 
AND OTHER FIBRE-PRODUCING COUNTRIES. 

The advantages Floridas has over Yucatan, the Baha- 
mas, or any other fibre-producing country, are as follows: 

Better and cheaper lands ; larger and better plants, pro- 
ducing a superior quality of hemp ; better and cheaper trans- 
portation facilities; close proximity to the largest seat of 
consumption; a salubrious and healthful climate, which ren- 
ders possible the employment of better and more intelligent 
labor. 

FLORIDA MAY SPIN ITS OWN FIBRE. 

For practical reasons, neither Yucatan, the Phillipine 
Islands, India, or the Bahamas, can spin their own fibres, 
chiefest among these is, the unhealthiulness of those coun- 
tries will not permit of skilled labor abiding in them. It 



15 

has been demonstrated that it pays best to spin cotton in 
the South near to the cotton fields ; the same rule is equally 
applicable to leaf fibres, and there is no reason why, when 
Florida is able to produce hemp in sufiicient quantities, that 
it should not be manufactured where produced. 

INCREASE OF CONSUMPTION. 

The consumption of Sisal Hemp in the United States 
has steadily increased and grown greater each year during 
the past fifteen years; statistics show that in 1880 the im- 
portations were 80,254 bales, while in 1894 they amounted 
to 357,977 bales. The annual consumption of Manilla Hemp 
has increased in an almost like proportion; in 1880 the im- 
portations were 159,594 bales, while in 1893 they amounted 
to 422,956 bales. 

FLORIDA HEMP CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF SISAL 
AND MANILA. 

Florida hemp will supply the place of both Sisal and 
Manila hemps in all the manufactures they enter into; the 
enormous quantities imported each year can easily be pro- 
duced in Florida, and the nearly |20,000,000 that annually 
goes abroad to pay for these two foreign grown hemps may 
be saved to our own counti'y. 

THE HEMP INDUSTRY AS CONDUCTED IN YUCATAN. 

The hemp industry in Yucatan is conducted on 200 
estates, varying from 500 to 28,000 acres in extent. The 
size of the cultivation on the estates range from 250 to 
3,500 acres. Twelve thousand Maya Indian laborers are 
employed on these estates. The largest of them employ 
locomotives in hauling the crop from the fields, others using 
tramway trucks or carts drawn by mules and oxen. The in- 
dustry is conducted on similar lines in the Bahamas and 
large plantations is the rule, although many small farmers 
living in the neighborhood of the plantations are engaged 
in the cultivation, selling their leaves to the large growers. 

LARGE PLANTATIONS WIN BEST RESULTS. 

For large investments probably no industry on the 
globe offers so many or better inducements for the profitable 
placing of capital as the production of hemp in Florida, 
certainly no other cultivated crop can show such a certain 
and constant source of income. Undoubtedly the best re- 
sults would be obtained with large plantations, operated by 
companies and individuals having large capital, as con- 
ducted in Yucatan and the Bahamas. 



16 

SMALL FARMERS MAY TAKE UP THE CULTIVATION 
BY CO OPERATION. 

Small farmers living in the same neighborhood and not 
too remote from each other, by co-operation and an acreage 
sufficient to warrant the establishment of a decorticating 
plant to be located at some central point, may take up the 
cultivation with equally good results. 

The average size of famis in the Northwest is IGO acres; 
it is a rare occurrence that a farmer is found with less than 
100 acres of grain, wheat or corn, in cultivation. One hun- 
dred acres of Agave vSisalana may be attended to with far 
less expense for cultivation and preparation of the commer- 
cial article for market than 100 acres of wheat or corn, while 
the profits would be many times greater. One decorticator 
will perform the work of extracting the fibre for 400 acres, 
this would keep it employed every day in the year. A combi- 
nation of four or eight farmers with 100 or 50 acres respect- 
ively, could, by co-operation, have an industry that would 
be found agreeable as well as profitable. 




Pig. t. Pole Plant from Florida. Fig. 2. Pole PLint liom the Bahamas. 



%B 






'imiifM 



■ 'a 






Appearance of Yucatan Sisal Plant, IS years old. 





jg^ 




Plant of Agave Sisalana in Pole or Flower. 




The J. C. Todd Fibre Cleaner 



23 



SANSEVIERIA 

OR BOWSTRINO HEMP. 

This plant is found growinft- in many parts of Florida, 
in gardens as an ornamental plant principally, and its value 
as a fibre-producing plant is not generally understood. It 
has a varigated or spotted leaf and is commonly known as 
Rattlesnake Lily, or Spotted Lily. It makes a rapid growth 
in soils suited to its culture, the requirements being a rich 
moist soil. The plant is easily propagated and spreads rap- 
idly, soon getting entire possession of the soil and com- 
pletely eradicating all other vegetation. Once established 
in the soil, it will undoubtedly last for all time, and never 
require any replanting. 

DESCRIPTION OIF THE PLANT. 

The following description of Sansevieria appears in 
United States Department of iVgriculture, Fibre Report 
No. 5. 

"There are three species of Sansevieria to which the 
name Bowstring Hemp is usually given, though there are a 
dozen species in the genus. The three species; are S. guinee- 
sis, S. zeylanica and S. latifolia, the first named being known 
as African Bowstring Hemp. S. zeylanica is the best known, 
however, and is common on the Ceylon Coast, from which 
it takes its name. The plant has been known and prized 
in India from remote antiquity under the name of Murva. 
The genus Sansevieria abounds on the Coast of Guinea, 
aronnd Ceylon and along the Bay of Bengal, extending to 
Java and the Coasts of China. They are stemless, perennial 
plants, throwing out runners, and having only root leaves 
which are thick and fleshy and usually sword or lace-shaped, 
with sheathing bases. They flower from January to May, 
and the plants grow wild in the jungles. They are easily 
propagated on most every soil from the slips which issue 
in great abundance from the roots, requiring little or no 
care and not requiring to be renewed often, if at all." 

Sansevieria guineensis and Sansevieria zeylanica are 
the varieties met with in Florida, the fonner is the most 
valuable to cultivate for fibre, the growth being much more 
rapid and the leaves attain a greater length and weight, fully 
matured leaves* measuring seven feet in length. 



24 

The fibre from this plant is very even, fine and hair-like, 
perfectly white and possessing? j?reat strength, the leaves 
are readily cleaned by the new antomatic machines for de- 
corticating leaf fibres. The fibre will no doubt be found a 
good spinning fibre and valuable for some forms of textiles, 
and in some instances a substitute for flax. The plant wOl 
stand a number of degrees of cold, and during the severe 
Winter of 1894-'95, when the coldest weather for sixty years 
was experienced in Florida, plants were found uninjured in 
partially protected situations, as the south sides of buildings 
and fences, as far north as Sanford. In a cultivated state, 
the plants grow so thickly that they protect themselves, and 
probably no damaging cold would ever penetrate the plants 
to do injury south of the 28th 'degree of latitude. 

FLORIDA SOIL WELL SUITED TO SANSEVIERIA. 

There are many thousand acres of land in South Florida 
that are suited to the cultivation of Sansevieria, sawgrass, 
muck and low flat woods lands being best suited to its 
growth. The plant requires no cultivation after once estab- 
lished, as it soon covers the whole ground, crowding out all 
weeds and grasses and making cultivation impossible and 
unnecessary. 

EXPERIMENTS ALREADY MADE IN FLORIDA. 

Sansevieria has been cultivated to some extent in South 
Florida. Mr. Geo. H. Bier, of Key West, has many acres in 
successful cultivation on Boca Chica Key. Dr. J. V. Harris, 
of Key West, has had much experience with Sansevieria 
and has a number of acres of fine plants growing in Lee 
Count;\% near Fort Myers. Dr. L. D. Washburn, Director of 
the Experiment Station at Fort Myers, has experimented 
with it to quite an extent, and in a variety of soils. These 
gentlemen are very enthusiastic over the possibilities of 
Sansevieria in South Florida, as subsequent statements 
from them will affirm. 

Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, while conducting his in- 
vestigations with leaf fibre plants in Florida during the 
Winter of 1892, made exhaustive experiments with Sanse- 
vieria, the report of which forms a very interesting chapter 
in United States Department of Agriculture Fibre Report 
No. 5. He was enabled to secure a ton of leaves from Mr. 
George H. Bier's plantation on Boca Chica Key, many of 
them seven feet in length, from which he obtained a q'uan- 
tity- of superb fibre, averaging over six feet in length. 



25 

USES OF THE FIBRE IN MANUFACTURE. 

Mr. Dodge, in speaking of the value and uses of this 
fibe, says: "The material is too good for cordage, in the 
usual acceptance of the term. It is so much =finer and better 
than the cordage fibres, so called, that it would doubtless 
find a use in the manufacture of fine twines, and I think, 
with proper preparation, could be made into a fair spin- 
ning fibre, and possibly be employed on some new form of 
manufacture. The fibre is fine, white and lustrous, the 
leaves yielding readily to ti-eatment in the machine in the 
fresh state." 

Mr. George H. Bier, in a letter to the Department of 
Agriculture, under date of May 12th, 1890, speaks of San- 
sevieria as follows: 

"This plant was imported into England from New Zea- 
land in 1735. It was then sent to the British West India 
Islauds for pro])agation. It found its way to Cuba as an 
ornamental plant and in 1866 was brought as an ornamental 
plant from Cuba to Key West. The people, though ignorant 
of its value as a fibre plant, becoming alarmed at its fruit- 
fulness, endeavored to eradicate it. It is superior in many 
respects to the Sisal plant. Its fibre is as strong and much 
finer. Its yield of fibre is greater, although it does not pro- 
duce as many leaves to the plant, for it gi'ows closer and 
can be regularly cut every year, each succeeding year pro- 
ducing a larger crop from the same roots. It will produce 
lAvice the amount of fibre in the same space of ground as 
the Sisal will do, and where the Sisal takes three years to 
mature or attain its greatest growth, this plant will produce 
in eighteen months a leaf nearly five feet in length." 

At the request of Mr. Dodge, Dr. J. V. Harris, who has 
experimented with Sansevieria for k long term of years, pre- 
pared some interesting statements relative to his experi- 
ence with the plant, and which were published in the United 
States Department of Agriculture Fibre Report No. 5. These 
statements give the experience of a practical man as to the 
propagation and cultivation of Sanseveria, also other inter- 
esting facts relating to the plant and its fibre, and they are 
herewith reproduced: 

THE FLORIDA SANSEVIERIA. 

This plant, which is commonly known as Bowstring 
Hemp, is a native of Tropical Africa and the East Indies. 

The Sansevieria has long been known as an ornamental 
plant, but, although one of the most valuable fibre-produ- 
cing plants in existence, it has never, so far as I am aware, 
been utilized for commercial purposes. My attention was 



26 

attracted to it about twenty years ago. Whilst examining 
it as an ornamental plant, I discovered that it afforded a 
large amount of fine, strong fibre. I immediately began 
making experiments with its culture, and was only pre- 
vented from going into the cultivation of it for the purpose 
of introducing it by the want of the proper machinery for 
cleaning it. Since that time, however, machines have been 
placed upon the market for cleaning Sisal Hemp, which 
clean the Sansevieria in a very perfect manner. I am con- 
vinced that the time has arrived to call attention to the val- 
uable properties possessed by this hitherto commonplace 
plant. 

In propagating the plant, for convenience, the leaves are 
flit into sections about four inches long, and inserted into 
boxes of earth to the depth of about two inches; the soil 
must be moderately dry, as too much moisture will cause 
the leaves to rot; the boxes must be placed in a moderately 
shady place, and in a few weeks' time will put out numer- 
ous fibrous roots, which will soon be followed by suckers. 
The plant can also readily be propagated by sections of its 
rhizomes, or roots, which grow without any difficulty. (See 
Plates VI ri and IX.) 

Sansevieria requires good rich soil to succeed well, and 
will, under favorable circumstances, acquire its full growth 
in about twelve months' time; ordinarily, however, it will 
not acquire its full growth until some time in the second 
^ear. 

When once the land is stocked with its growth, it will 
always, when cut, give a full growth from the roots inside 
of twelve months, so that it is perfectly safe after the sec- 
ond year to count on a full crop every year, the growth each 
year becoming denser, and in a few 'years becoming so thick 
that it would appear to be imnossible to cultivate it, which, 
however, appears to be needless, as when once fully estab- 
lished it takes entire possession of the soil, entirely eradica- 
ting everything else; it does not appear to materially ex- 
haust the soil, as it will grow for a number of years in the 
same place, and continue to make vigorous growth. 

Sansevieria is essentially a tropical plant, but will stand 
a slight frost. It will grow luxuriantly upon the rich lands 
south of the latitude of the Caloosahatchee River upon the 
West Coast, and of Lake Worth upon the East Coast. It 
will, after reaching maturity, if not cut, stand without in- 
Jury for a number of years, the plant at the end of that time 
affording just as good fibre as in the first or second year of 
its growth. T am satisfied that a plantation would last over 
ten years without any necessity for renewing it or for inter- 
fering with it in any manner. Sansevieria will, after it is well 



27 

established, afford a crop of five tons of clean fibre per acre, 
worth, upon estimate, about flOO per ton. I selected a few 
square feet, where the growth was thickest, as an experi- 
ment, to show how much a icrop was capable of producing, 
cut and cleaned the leaves, and found that it gave at the 
rate of 13| tons of clean fibre per acre. I do not, however, 
believe that the average crop will go over five tons per acre, 
which I consider a fair estimate. 

The fibre of the Sansevieria is capable of being manu- 
factured into anything from the heaviest cordage to the 
finest fabric for ladies' dress goods. I conversed with an 
English gentleman, who told me that he had seen a few 
yards of cloth manufactured from the fibre, as an experi- 
ment, in England, and that it rivaled the famous pineapple 
silk in beauty and fineness of texture. When we consider the 
great ease with which the plant is propagated, the rapidity 
of its growth, and its enormous yield of fibre, together with 
the various uses to which it may T3e applied, we cannot fail 
to be impressed with its importance. Flax manufacturers 
are reported as saying that if they can get the fibre at |100 
per ton they can run flax out of the markets of the world. 
Another great recommendation of the plant is, that it has 
absolutely no enemies among the insect tribe, and is not 
injured by rains or storms, nor by drought; when once fully 
established, a calculation can be safely made upon an aver- 
age crop. The expense of cultivating the crop when estab- 
lished will, after the second vear, be almost nothing, as the 
crop will take care of itself. About the greatest expense will 
be the cutting and hauling the crop to the machine for clean- 
ing it. 

I have been experimenting with the various fibre plants 
suitable to the climate of South Florida for more than 
twenty years, and know of no other fibre plant which I can 
conscientiously recommend for cultivation, with the view 
of making money. I do believe, however, that any person 
with any knowledge of farming, who has the necessary 
capital to back him, has a perfectly safe investment — cer- 
tainly much safer than most investments made every day 
by the business w^orld and considered as per^ectlv fair risks. 

J. V. HARRIS, M. D. 

The estimated yield of fibre, as given by Dr. Harris, 
seems unreasonably larire, but when it is considered that 
the leaves of mature plants are from six to seven feet in 
length and that thev grow as thickly as they can possibly 
stand, the yield of fibre cannot be otherwise than enormous. 
Even if the product of one acre should be only one ton of 
fibre, what other cultivated crop could show such returns 
for so small an outlay? The estimated worth placed upon 



28 

the fibre by Dr. Harris, |100 per ton, is altogether too low 
for so valuable a fibre. It'is doubtful if the market price of 
Sansevieria fibre would ever be less than $150 per ton, which 
is about the average price of Manila Hemp, It would not 
require a connoisseur in fibres to detect the superiority of 
Sansevieria over Manila. 

In the report of the Department of Agriculture for 1892, 
Secretary Rusk speaks as follows regarding Sansevieria: 

"Large plantings of Sansevieria, or Bowstring Hemp, 
have been made in Florida during the year, and those inter- 
ested in this new industry are sanguine of success. The 
plants grow readily, spreading rapidly, and can be cheaply 
harvested and cleaned, while the fibre, by its superiority, 
can be used in the higher grades of manufacture." 

The statements of these prominent and well-known 
authorities all go to establish and demonstrate beyond a 
doubt the great value of Sansevieria as a fibre-producing 
plant. The ease with which the plant can be propagated 
and grown, the brief period to wait for it to become profita- 
ble, the enormous yield and value of the product, should 
make the cultivation of Sansevieria in South Florida highly 
renumerative. 




Sansevieria Guineensis. 




Fig:. 1. Sansevieria Cuttings in Propagaiin^i; Hci 




Fig. 2. Group ot Partially Giown Plants. 




Fig. 1. Sansevienii PLints in Blossom. 




Fig. 2. Advanced Plants in Propagating Bed. 



32 



BROMELIA SYLVESTRIS 

OR WILD PINEAPPLE 

This is a plant found growing abundantly, usually in a 
w ild state, in Mexico, Central and youth America and also 
to some extent in the West Indies. Bromelia Sylvestris will 
make a luxuriant growth in sterile, rocky barrens, where no 
other vegetation can maintain an existence. It also thrives 
and makes an enormous and rapid growth in rich, moist 
soils, the leaves reaching 12 feet in length. So the question 
of soils in cultivating the Bromelia Sylvestris would be a 
secondary consideration, as it will, without doubt, make a 
good growth in any variety of soils, in a tropical or semi- 
tropical climate. 

The leaves of this plant are identical in shape with the 
pineapple leaf, and the plant is commonly termed wild pine- 
apple. The leaves of mature plants are from six to twelve 
feet in length and four inches in width at the widest part 
and are armed with ugly hooked spines or thorns. 

The plant is propagated same as the pineapple, by suck- 
ers and slips. It has been cultivated to some extent in 
Mexico, but has never been brought into a state of cultiva- 
tion like the Sisal plant, owing to the difficulties of adapta- 
tion of machinery for extracting the fibre. 

VALUE OF THE COMMERCIAL ARTICLE. 

The commercial article is known as pita, and is a fine 
and exceedingly strong fibre. The product is mostly manu- 
factured in Mexico, into hammocks, nets, cordage, carpets, 
and articles of common use to which it is adapted. Only a 
limited amount of the manufactured fibre has been exported, 
but enough of this has been done to show the outside world 
the great value of the fibre, and there can be no doubt that 
when this fibre is produced in large quantities there will be 
a great demand for it, and at satisfactory prices. 

The following extracts from eminent authorities on 
fibres will show the great value of pita and the esteem in 
which the fibre is held. 

Mr. P.L. Simonds, an English authority on British in- 
dustries, says: 

"Ropes and cordage made of it are much stronger and 
more durable than those made from hemp; they are also 



33 

lighter and more pliable; do not require tarring, by which 
hempen ropes lose much of their strength, and bear the alter- 
ations of dryness and moisture with little injury, while the 
difference in hygrometric action is considerable. 

"Cables made of this material are acknowledged by the 
Admiralty Board to be much superior to those made from 
hemp. 

"The weight of pita is one-sixth less than hemp, thirty 
feet of one-inch rope made of the best hemp from the Royal 
Dock Yards weighing twelve ounces, while the same made 
of pita only ten ounces. 

"The superiority of the pita over hempen ropes is un- 
doubted, and I annex an extract from a report by a Belgian 
engineer who had closely studied the question: "Ropes 
made from the pita," says Mons. Chevremont, "possesses a 
greater average strength by four times than those made 
from hemp of the same diameter and manufactured by the 
same process." 

"By the operation of tarring, ropes of hemp lose nearly 
a quarter of their strength, while ropes made from the pita, 
from their nature, are exempt from this operation, their nat- 
ural gum acting in lieu of tar, and their smooth surface 
protects them from wear by friction. 

"The specific gravi+" of ropes of pita, compared with 
ropes of hemp, is as nine to fifteen ; it is, therefore, clear that 
a rope of the vegetable silk weighs six-fifteenths lighter than 
a rope of hemp of the same diameter and length. 

Squier, in his "Tropical Fibres," states, that the fibre 
of this plant is probably more valuable in every sense than 
those of any other tropical plant, and would seem to be pro- 
duced more readily than any other. 

Dr. D. Morris, Assistant Director of the Royal Kew 
Gardens, England, publishes the following on the fibre of 
the Bromelia Sylvestris : 

"There are several samples of fibre of wild pineapple, 
Bromelia Sylvestris, from the West Indies and Central 
America at Kew, but there is no record of their commercial 
value. A sample, supposed to be from this plant, was lately 
sent from Trinidad, upon which the brokers reported as 
follows: "Not yet in commercial use, but destined, we 
think, to a successful future ; fine, soft, supple fibre, strong, 
and good color, ample length ; say £30 per ton and upwards." 

In United States Department of Agriculture, Fibre Re- 
port No. 5, Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, has the following 
interesting notes regarding this plant: 

"This specie is found abundantly throughout the trop- 
ics, and there are no collections that do not contain superb 
3 



34 

samples of its fibre. Specimens brought b}^ me from Paris, 
presented by the Mexican Commissioner General, are among- 
the finest I have seen, averaging four feet in length, the fibre 
being soft, white and brilliant. 

"The wild pineapple abounds on the rocky hills of the 
West Indies, particularly Jamaica, where the plants are 
used as hedges and fences. Its leaves are steeped in water 
by the natives, and, after beating with a wooden mallet, 
yield a strong fibre. It is in common use on the island of 
San Domingo, and is favorably mentioned by Dr. Parry in 
his report. 

"The leaves from which the fibre is obtained are from 
1^ to 3 inches in width and 5 to 8 feet long. They are quite 
thin and are lined with a fine, tough fibre, which some au- 
thorities consider a superior substitute for flax. In portions 
ot Mexico the Bromelia is cultivated for its fibre, which is 
described as very fine, from 6 to 8 feet in length, and from its 
fineness and toughness commonly used in belt making- 
works. It also finds application in the manufacture of a 
great variety of articles. In Mexico the leaves were for- 
merly subjected to the slow and laborious process of hand 
scraping, but, I am now informed, are cleaned by machinery, 
as there is a considerable demand for the product. 

"Specimens of Bromelia fibre from British Honduras 
was brought to the notice of the Royal Society of Arts in 
18.57, and from examinations then made it was ascertained 
that each fibre contained from five to twelve or more fila- 
ments, held together by gummy matter capable of being dis- 
solved by proper processes. Specimens had been passed over 
the comb or hackle of a flax mill, and had been pronounced 
by the most experienced flax spinners of England to be 
greatly superior to Russian flax, and approaching the best 
description of Belgian in capability of application to the 
finest textile f rabrics. 

"It is said that the more mature the plant the coarser 
and longer the fibre, so with this knowledge it is an easy 
matter to select just the qualitv^ of fibre desired. The plants 
are armed with spines or thorns — used by the natives for 
needles and pins — thongh these disappear in cultivation." 

IMPORTANCE OF ITS INTRODUCTION INTO FLORIDA 

While the Bromelia Sylvestris is not found growing in 
Florida, the plant having never been introduced into the 
State, there can be no doubt but that it will grow in this 
State with as equal luxuriance as in Mexico, the West Indies, 
or any other tropical or semi-tropical country, and the mat- 
ter of introduction should receive no further delay. 



35 

As before mentioned, the only obstacle that has been 
in the way to prevent this plant being extensively cultivated 
has been the want of machinery that would effectually clean 
the leaves and produce fibre at a low cost. This has been 
overcome, as experiments made with the recently improved 
fibre cleaners, has demonstrated that they will clean the 
leaves of the Bromelia Sylvestris with as equal efficiency 
as those of the Agave Sisalana. 

Florida has now the opportunity of utilizing another 
valuable fibre plant, the cultivation of which promises to be 
attended with great success and profit. 



36 



PINEAPPLE FIBRE. 



The cultivation of the Pineapple was commenced in 
Florida about the year 1860, on one of the Florida Keys, 
since which time it has gradually increased and grown 
greater, and has now become an important Florida industry. 
The principal Pineapple growing districts of Florida at the 
present time are the keys, the East Coast from Biscayn Bay 
to as far north as Melbourn, on Indian River; Lee, DeSoto 
and Manatee Counties, the lake region of Polk County and 
iJie vicinity of Orlando in Orange County. Pineapples are 
cultivated to a more or less extent in many other parts of 
South Florida. The industry has proved to be a very prof- 
itable one, and is now receiving much attention and the 
acreage is being constantly increased. 

It is generally understood that the leaves of the Pine- 
apple plant contains a fine and valuable fibre, that is capable 
of being used in the manufacture of valuable and delicate 
fabrics. Only a limited amount of Pineapple fibre is pro- 
duced, and that in countries where labor is plentiful and 
cheap, and the work of extracting the fibre is performed 
by hand. 

There are thousands of tons of Pineapple leaves that 
go to waste each year in Florida, that with machinery to ex- 
tract the fibre therefrom, could be utilized to a valuable 
I)urpose and add materially to the income now derived from 
the Pineapple industry, 

MACHINERY. 

Machines are now constructed specially for cleaning 
the leaves of the Pineapple plant in large quantities, and 
the fibre may be produced at a minimum cost. These de- 
corticators are built on the same principle of the automatic 
machines for cleaning the leaves of the Agave Sisalana and 
Sansevieria plants, the cleaning parts being made smaller 
and finer adjusted, to act on the much smaller Pineapple 
leaves. It is claimed for this decorticator that it will clean 
200,000 Pineapple leaves in a day, which would amount to 
about ten tons of leaves, with a yield of about 600 pounds 
of fibre. 

The following notes regarding Pineapple fibre, appear 
in United States Department of Agriculture Fibre Report 
No. 5: 



37 

"In the Rungpore district of India, the fibre is much 
used by the local shoemakers for thread, though the plant 
is cultivated principally for its fruit bearing qualities, the 
fibre being little appreciated. In the Phillipine Islands it 
grows in great abundance and is valued on account of the 
fineness of the fibre, from which is woven the celebrated 
Pineapple cloth of the Phillipines. 

"The fibre of the Pineapple leaf is very soft and fine, 
the filaments being quite flexible and resistant. They yield 
readily to treatment in the alkaline bath and are easily sub- 
divided especially when subjected to trituration. 

"In the East Indies, where the Pineapple was intro- 
duced as early as 1600, the 'fibre is extensively used in the 
manufacture of the delicate fabric called pina, as well as 
for cordage. Pina is considered to be more delicate in 
texture than any other known to the vegetable kingdom. 

"When the plant is grown for fibre, as in the Phillipine 
Islands, it is customary to take off the fruit before maturity, 
that the leaves may be more fully developed. 

Mr. Charles Richards Dodge! while conducting his in- 
vestigations with leaf fibres in Florida, made complete ex- 
periments with Pineapple fibre, and has the following to 
say regarding it: 

"The fibre was extracted with the Van Buren machine, 
which, while it turned out a superb product, would be 
wholly inadequate for the work from a commercial stand- 
point," as only two or three leaves could be fed at a time. 
The Florida fibre, when simply plunged into cold water for 
a few minutes after coming from the machine and then 
dried in the sun. came out almost white, with a fineness 
and softness unequaled by any other leaf fibre that I have 
extracted." 

Mr. D. Moi-ris, Assistant Director of the Royal Kew 
Gardens, England, makes the following statements regard- 
ing Pineapple fibre: 

"Although not at present in commercial use, this fibre 
has a future of considerable importance before it. It is 
finer and stronger than that yielded by any other plant, and 
in the Phillipine Islands, where the West India Pineapple 
has become thoroughly naturalized, a beautiful fabric, 
known as pina cloth, is made from it. A rope of Pineapple 
fibre 3i inches in circumference bore a strain at Calcutta 
of 57 cwt." 

The leaves of the Pineapple are of no value to the plant 
after the fruit has been removed, and using them for fibre 
would simplv be utilizing a waste product to a valuable pur- 
pose. While the production of fibre from the leaves of the 
Pineapple plant would be nothing like in extent that from 



38 

other plants, which would be cultivated especially for 
fibres, a large amount of another valuable Florida fibre 
could be placed upon the market, and the income now de- 
rived from the cultivation of the pineapple be largely in- 
creased. 




Fig, 2. Pineapple Field in Florida. 



40 

FLORIDA JUTE, 

OR. URENA LOBATA. 

This plant is indigenous to Florida soil and climate, 
and is found gTowinj>- in a wild, uncultivated condition in 
nearly every part of the State. It is commonly known as 
"Caesar Weed," and termed by some as "French Cockle 
Burr." 

This plant produces an excellent fibre, which is found 
in the bark of the plant, and belonj^s to that class known as 
bast fibres, as Jute. Ramie, etc. The fibre is lonj?, fine, soft, 
nearly white, and has a silk-like lustre, and in the opinion 
of competent authorities, will make an excellent substitute 
for flax. 

The following!; in regard to Urena Lobata appears in a 
work entitled "The Uncultivated Bast Fibres of the United 
States," by Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, and known as 
United States Department of Af^riculture Fibre Report 
No. 5: 

Another malvaceous plant which grows wild all over 
India, and which is common in Florida, is Urena Lobata. 
It also abounds in South America, its Brazilian name being 
Guaxima, or Uaixyma,* while it is known in Venezuela as 
Cadillo. Its Indian name is Bun-ochra, the natives of India 
considering its fibre useful for manufacture into sacking 
and twine. It is called a "tolerable substitute for hemp." 

Dr. Ernst, Director of the National Museum, Caracas, 
Venezuela, describes the fibre as very fine, white in color, 
and a meter in length. It is very strong, and takes dyes 
readily. 

Fibre of Urena Lobata was received from Brazil (exhi- 
bition, 1876), where it is extracted readily and makes very 
strong cordage. "It takes color well, and the dves are last- 
ing." In the East Indies it has been used for the manufac- 
ture of paper. Spon states that slins of sized paper weigh- 
ing 89 c-rains made from this fibre sustained 7.5 pounds 
against Bank of Erjp-land note pulp 47 pounds. Urena Sin- 
uata is another Indian species. 

I have found Urena Lobata growing in many portions 
of Florida, both on the east and west coasts, though I have 
never seen its slender stalks over 3 feet in height. It was 
several times pointed out to me as "Ramie," by people who 
had never seen the true Ramie growing. Recently the plant 
has been sent to the Department from several localities in 
Florida, with inquiries as to its value commercially. A 
common name which attaches to the plant in Florida is 
"Caesar Weed." 



41 

This plant, in common with many other Florida weeds, 
grows up in the early spring and summer months, and dies 
down in the late autumn. As Mr. Dodge was conducting 
his experiments in Florida during the winter and early 
spring, the plant was not at its be^t when it came under his 
observation. 

Mr. Ed. L. Owens, of Dade City, Fla., has experimented 
with the plant to quite an extent, and is very sanguine as to 
its great value as a fibre-producing plant. In writing of his 
experiments, Mr. Owens says: 

''I have some plants in cultivation that grew from 8 
to 10 feet high and from 1| to 2 inches in diameter, and the 
branches would reach out from 4 to 6 feet. The plant looks 
very much like the cotton plant, and branches out like the 
cotton plant, and when young could easily be taken for it. 
Jf planted in rows from 3 to 6 inches in the drill it will grow 
perfectly straight and branch out but little. After my 
plants matured I extracted the fibre from the bark, which 
was done by placing the stalks in water for eight or ten days, 
when the fibre could easily be removed wath the hands. I 
know two to three cuttings can be made in a year, and when 
once planted and taken root the plant is there for all time." 

The method used by Mr. Owens in extracting the fibre, 
is identical with that practiced by the natives of India in 
producing Jute. The recently invented Ramie decorticators 
work with as almost equal efficiency upon Jute stalks, as 
upon Ramie, and there can be but little doubt, with, possi- 
ble slight modifications, that they would do equally as well 
with the stalks of the Urena Lobata. This may make possi- 
ble the extensive cultivation of this plant in Florida, The 
experiments already begun should be continued, and the 
hitherto despised weed may become a source of great in- 
come to the State. 




The Ccesar Weed (Urena Lobata). 



43 



RAMIE. 



For the past twenty-five years the attention of the tex- 
tile world has been largely directed toward Ramie, and at 
the present time it is exciting still greater interest than 
heretofore, by reason of the recently invented machinery 
and processes for decorticating and preparing the fibre in a 
finished condition for the manufacture. This interest is not 
confined to our own country, but is widespread and almost 
universal; England, France, Austria and Germany, where 
numerous factories have been established for Ramie manu- 
facture, being particularly interested. It has not been pos- 
sible, however, to take up the extensive manufacture of 
Ramie textiles, as only a limited supply of the raw material 
has been obtainable. 

HISTORY OF RAMIE. 

The literature that has been published regarding Ramie 
is quite extensive, and the history of the plant and fibre is 
generally well understood, but for the benefit of those whose 
knowledge of the plant may be only imperfect, the following 
brief description is given. 

Ramie is known as China grass and Rhea, and belongs 
to the genus Urticaceae. It is not, however, a grass, but 
closely resembles the common nettle of Europe, and is fre- 
quently called the stingless nettle. The botanical name of 
the plant is Boehmeria Nivea. 

For centuries Ramie has been cultivated in China, and 
four thousand years ago Egyptian cerements were made 
from Ramie fibre, which is proven by the fact that it is found 
among the wrappings of mummies. It has, also, long been 
cultivated in Japan, in Java, Bornea, Sumatra and in the 
East Indies, and during the present century has been intro- 
duced into other countries. Its introduction into the United 
States, according to United States Agricultural Reports, 
dates back to the year 1855. 

Ramie, when fully grown, attains a hight of four to six 
feet, with a prolific yield of leaves, which are green above 
and a silvery white i3eneath, the fibre is fonnd in the bark 
surrounding the stalk, which has a pithy centre. The plant 
grows rapidly and produces several crops a year without 
any replanting, the number depending upon the climate 
where cultivated. 



44 

SOIL AND CLENIATE. 

Ramie requires a warm, humid climate, witli as near 
immunity from frost as possible, so that a. continuous 
};Towth may be maintained, to mature best and most prof- 
itable results. Rich and light sandy soil is best adapted 
to Ramie, and it flourishes on alluvial soils in which there is 
no large admixture of clay, to cause liability to bake and 
become hard. 

In a recently published work, entitled "The Cultivation 
of Ramie in the United States," by Mr: Charles Richards 
Dodge, and known as United States Department of Agri- 
culture Fibre Report No. 7, appears the following in regard 
to the questions of soil and climate: 

"In general terms, it (may be said that the Ramie plant 
requires a hot, moist climate, with no extremes of tempera- 
tare, and a naturally rich, damp, but never a wet soil, the 
necessary moisture to be supplied by frequent rains or by 
irrigation : in other words, such a climate and soil that, when 
the growing season has commenced, the growth will be 
rapid and continuous. In the United States the best locali- 
ties, so far as experiment has determined, are portions of 
Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas on the Grulf, and 
Central California on the Pacific Coast. 

In the Gulf States, Ramie has been grown experiment- 
ally in a great variety of soils, from the light sandy uplands 
to the rich black lands of the Louisiana bottoms, though 
light, sandy, alluvial soils have always given the best re- 
sults. In California, deei) alluvial, sandy, or loamy, which, 
when well prepared, will hold their moisture through the 
growing season, or that can be irrigated, are most commonly 
selected. Any good soil that will produce other crops is 
recommended, particularly if well prepared, or that holds 
its moisture throughout the growing season, or which can 
be irrigated. 

PROPAGATION. 

Ramie can be propagated by four different methods, 
viz: by seed, by cuttings, by layering and by division of the 
roots. Growing from seed requires very careful attention, 
but is easily accomplished by planting in boxes or frames 
supplied with a proper degree of moisture and protected 
from severe winds, rains and hot sun. The plant beds can 
be protected by grass or! any coarse cloth and in piney lands 
a cheap protection can be constructed with poles covered by 
pine straw. Watering the seed beds should be done by using 
a fine spray nozzle on a watering can, as the seeds are very 
small and care must be taken not to plant too thickly. A 



45 

good plan would be to mix the seed with ashes or some finely 
Ijulverized earth before sowing'. It should be brushed in 
and slightly covered. The young plants are very delicate, 
and maiie slow growth until they nave formed roots, after 
which they grow rapidly. When the plants are two or three 
inches high ihe sunlight may be gradually admitted to them. 
In five or six weeks tney will be strong enough to transplant 
to the field under conditions similar to planting garden 
plants. If seeds are planted in the fall they should remain 
undisturbed until the next spring, by which time they will 
have formed roots and can be handled without care. 

Cuttings from Kamie grow more readily than from al- 
most any other plant. Early in the spring the stems should 
he cut into lengths from six to eight inches and placed in the 
ground obliquely, leaving but a small portion remaining 
exposed. This can be continued as long as the ground is 
(juite moist before hot and dry weather sets in, after which 
tney would require some watering and shading. The cut- 
tings should be placed close together in rows to facilitate 
weeding. They will form roots in fifteen to twenty days 
and may be transplanted a few weeks later. 

Layering the steins is another simple and easy method 
of propagation. An economical plan for getting a supply 
of roots is, to plant roots five or six feet apart in rows. Each 
root sends up several shoots, which, after they have attained 
a length of two or three feet, can be bent down in different 
directions into small trenches and covered with several 
inches of earth, leaving two or tlu-ee inches of the top out 
of the ground. Roots will form along the entire length of the 
stalk and send up new shoots, which can in turn be layered. 

Root division is the most reliable and convenient 
method for planting on a large scale. Roots that have been 
growing one season can be sub-divided into many parts and 
each part planted separately. They should be dug like sweet 
potatoes and cut in pieces from three to five inches long. 
The tap or water roots should be rejected, as they contain 
no eyes and will not grow. 

Ramie roots can be made to multiply in great profusion ; 
in the United States Agricultural Report of 18G7, page 220, 
appears the following statement: "100 roots in nine months 
jjroduced 40,000 plants." Any one who may obtain a small 
amount of seed or a few roots, can, by a careful observance 
of the foregoing rules for propagation, have in a brief period 
enough roots to plant a large acreage, and at 'the same time 
become familiar with all the essentials of cultivation. 
PLANTING AND CULTIVATION. 

The planting and cultivation of Ramie is simple, easy 
and inexpensive, as much so, in this respect, as any other 



46 

cultivated crop of the South. Mr. Henry Willet, of Louis- 
iana, a gentleman who has given Ramie much attention, 
being one of the pioneers in the cultivation in the United 
States, and having an experience with the plant that dates 
back for more than a quarter of a century, has prepared an 
excellent iJaper on this subject, and it is herewith repro- 
duced entire: 

"Much has been said and written on Ramie, but I have 
3et to see the first effort showing what the preliminary steps 
are towards the cultivation of this plant. Consequently, I 
will endeavor to demonsti-ate as briefly as possible the 
course pursued by myself for years past. 

To cultivate Ramie successfully, good soil susceptible 
of thorough drainage, must be selected. Ramie requires 
raoist, not wet ground. Poor soil may be utilized by fertili- 
zing. In preparing the soil, the ground should be well 
plowed during the fall and winter months, and allowed to 
lay exposed to the action of the weather. The deeper you 
plow the better. 

When preparing the land for planting Ramie roots or 
cuttings, the soil should be thoroughly pulverized and laid 
off into ridges by throwing the furrows together so as to 
make ridges two feet wide. This will allow the plants to 
spread and cover the entire surface. The center of the 
ridges should be five feet apart. After drawing the ridges 
well up make their tops rather flat by giving them a light 
chopping with a hoe, making the earth line at the same time. 
When ready for planting place the roots about ten to twelve 
inches apart obliquely in the ridges with the tops of the 
roots about three inches under ground. This mode of plant- 
ing requires 10,000 pieces of roots to the acre and insures a 
full crop the first year. 

For the purpose of increasing the plantation, where 
roots are scarce, they can be planted four or six feet apart 
in the ridge rows, and each root will make several bulbs 
which, when well grown, can be cut oif and planted; and 
when the stalks have grown to 2 or 3 feet high they can 
be turned down each way from the mother root and cov- 
ered with earth, leaving the tops two or three inches out 
of the ground. After the eyes of the layered stalks have 
sprouted they can be cut from the mother root and left to 
grow. 

Frequent cutting in a field planted in this manner will 
increase the stalks wonderfully fast. By this mode of plant- 
ing a large number of acres may be covered with a limited 
amount of roots or cuttings. Ramie cuttings will propagate 
if planted immediately after cutting the same. Ramie seed 
will do well also if care is taken to provide hotbeds. Sow 



47 

seed in very finely pulverized and highly fertilized earth. 
When the seed has germinated to the height of from four to 
six inches transplant when the weather is favorable. 

Whilst Ramie is growing, say from roots, cuttings or 
seeds, the grass and weeds should be kept down until it 
reaches a height of about eighteen inches, when the Kamie 
v»ill take care of itself. 

Ramie is a perennial plant, when once started, the soil 
and drainage kept in good condition, it will grow on regu- 
larly each succeeding year, and after the second year of its 
existence there is little or no trouble. I am satisfied that in 
order to receive satisfactory results Ramie should be 
allowed to grow as close as possible, the more stalks pro- 
duced the more profitable the yield. 

Three crops yearly are absolutely certain, and four are 
possible. I have no data as to the amount of tons that can 
be produced per cutting on an acre of ground, but heard it 
variously stated, say from five to eight. It depends much 
on the richness and cultivation of the soil. 

I have planted Ramie for a number of years and during 
this time have devoted much time in experimenting with the 
view of ascertaining the best method of cultivating Ramie. 
1 think the few suggestions made in the foregoing will carry 
any one through successfully, should they desire to embark 
in the cultivation of this beautiful fibrous plant. Its value 
has been established long ago, and I am satisfied that the 
time has arrived when the value of this plant will be made 
manifest to the planters of Louisiana. 

New Orleans, La. HENRY WILLET." 

HARVESTING. 

Ramie may be harvested when the stalks turn from 
green to reddish brown near the base, and when the brown 
color extends upward about six inches from the roots the 
fibre is at its best, and the crop may be said to be ripe for har- 
vest. Other indications of maturity are the sprouting of the 
buds at the base of the stalks, and the ease with which 
the leaves may be stripped by passing the hand down the 
stalks. When the plants arrive at these stages they should 
at once be cut, to give the next crop a chance to grow, as 
well as to secure the best quality of fibre. The crop may be 
cut with knives, grass hooks and scythes ; it is also probable 
a reaper or mowing machine, of perhaps special design, may 
be used in cutting the stalks. 

DECORTICATION. 

Decortication, as applied to Ramie, means the separa- 
tion of the woody portion of the stalks from the fibre. There 
are two processes, known as green and dry decortication, 



48 

for when the work is done by machinery the stalks must be 
green and fresh or thoroughly dried. In either case the 
wood is brittle and can be easily broken and detached in 
small sections from the ribbons. 

In a few days after the stalks have been cut, the wood 
becomes tough and the gum, from loss of moisture, becomes 
like liquid glue, causing the outside covering to stick to the 
wood with such tenacity as to render sepai'ation by machin- 
ery impossible. When the stalks have become thoroughly 
dried tne conditions change, the wood becomes brittle again 
and the gum, to a great extent, loses its adhesiveness, the 
stalks can then be decorticated as easily as in the green 
state. However, the drying of the stalks is attended with 
considerable labor and expense, and there is great liability 
of injury to the fibre from fermentation and mildew. In 
moist climates it has been found that the drying of Ramie 
stalks is diflticult to acomplish, especially during rainy 
seasons and it is impossible to dry a large Ramie crop by arti- 
ficial methods. Green decortication is, therefore, the most 
practical and inexpensive method of handling the Ramie 
crop, particularly in those countries whose climatic condi- 
tions will not admit of drying the stalks in the sun. 

There are machines specially adapted to working 
Ramie green, and others for working it dry; while a few 
claim to work it either green or dry. 

DEGUMMING. 

The decorticated Ramie ribbons, before they are ready 
for manufacture, must undergo another process, that of de- 
gumming, as it is termed. Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, in 
his recent work on "The Cultivation of Ramie in the United 
States," and known as United States Department of Agri- 
culture Fibre Report No. 7, has the following interesting 
and comprehensive statement regarding this matter: 

"Before the Ramie fibre is hackled (combed), it must be 
subjected to a chemical operation analogous to retting, to 
which the French have given the niune "degommage" — 
hence the English term "degumming." The gums holding 
together the filaments of flax are soluble in water and there- 
fore the retting accomplishes the separation of these fila- 
ments without difficulty. The gums which hold together the 
structure of Ramie bast are not soluble in water, but re- 
quire peculiar chemical treatment, which can be more eco- 
nomically applied to the extracted fibre than to the fibrous 
substance as it exists in its natural state in the stalk as har- 
vested, and so the retting, or degumming, of Ramie is 
usually done by the spinner, who, knowing the use to which 
the prepared fibre will be applied, degums the raw product 



49 

to suit his own special needs. The farmer then has nothing 
. to do with this operation, and need not interest himself in 
it further than to know if his product, when extracted and 
degummed, is fit for spinning, or up to a standard of quality 
that will insure profit from the culture; nor is this operation 
connected with the work of decortication. 

"Through the researches of the late M. Fremy, mem- 
ber of the French Institute, it has been shown that the gums 
and cements holding together the filaments of Ramie are 
essentially composed of pectose, cutose and vasculose, 
while the fibre itself is composed of fibrous, cellulose and its 
derivatives. The theory of degumming, therefore, is to dis- 
solve and wash out the gums without attacking the cel- 
lulose. 

"In order to eliminate the vasculose and cutose, it is 
necessary to employ alkaline oleates or caustic alkalies em- 
ployed under pressure, and even bisulphates and hydrochlo- 
rites. The gums being dissolved the epidermis is detached 
and can be mechanically separated from the layers of fibre 
by washing. The larger number of degumming processes 
in present use embody these general principles." 

. YIELD. 

Various estimates have been placed upon the yield of 
Ramie per acre, this will depend largely upon the climate, 
cultivation and number of cuttings it is possible to make 
during the year. Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, in his recent 
report on Ramie, has the following on the question of yield 
and crops: 

"Taking ten weeks as the average time required to ma- 
ture the crop, three crops would require a growing season of 
thirty weeks. If the climatic conditions of the section where 
the crop is growing are such (that the requisite degrees of 
heat and moisture can be kept up uniformly for a period of 
thirty weeks, then three crops can be readily grown. If, on 
the other hand, the first and third crops are of slow growth, 
while the second crop, which has been produced in mid- 
summer, is of rapid growth, a uniform grade of fibre in the 
three crops can not be produced, and two sure crops will 
therefore be better than one sure and two uncertain crops." 

Professor Hilgard makes the following statement re- 
garding the rate bf growth in California: 

"In the Kern Valley there is little difficulty in getting 
four cuts of good size and quality, and the same is probably 
true of the stronger soils as far north as Fresno, and south- 
ward in the valley of South California. In the Sacramento 
Valley three cuts can doubtless be obtained, at least when 
irrigation is employed or in naturally moist land. At Berkly 
and elsewhere on the immediate coast, two cuts (the second 

4 



50 

usually a small one) is all that can be counted on; but in 
the warm valleys of the Coast Range doubtless from two to 
three full crops, according to the supply of moisture and 
the strength of the soil, may be looked for." 

Mr. Dodge further states that in his opinion, two cut- 
tings are possible in Texas and Louisiana, three in portions 
of Florida, and, as has already been stated by Professor 
Hilgard, from two to four cuttings in California- And since 
his visit to New Orleans, at the time of the official Ramie ma- 
chine trials of 1894, he is convinced that two cuttings of sec- 
ond year's growth Ramie, when properly cultivated, will 
produce 20 tons of green stalks with their leaves, and it 
may be possible, under the most favorable conditions, to se- 
cure a yield of even 25 tons per year. The foregoing refers 
to long tons of 2,240 pounds each. 

The amount of decorticated ribbons that can be pro- 
duced on an acre is also diversely estimated, but from re- 
ports and information from the most authentic sources it 
is safe to presume that 2,000 pounds of dry ribbons will be 
the average yield under fair cultivation. 

FERTILIZATION. 

It is evident that such enormous yield, of any crop 
without some substantial aid to the soil, in the way of 
manure, must prove very exhaustive. A small percentage 
of the crop is fibre, and the leaves, which amount to 50 per 
cent, of the crop, and the stalks, after decortication, can be 
returned to the soil, and if understandingly prepared, would 
furnish nearly or quite the necessary fertilization required. 

A fertilizer made by composting the offal (leaves and 
stalks after decortication) with Florida soft phosphates and 
the addition of a small amount of potash, would undoubtedly 
meet with all the requirements. The vegetable matter 
would in a short time become thoroughly decomposed and 
in a condition to be handled as easily as any commercial 
fertilizers, and it would also be found an excellent manure 
for other crops as well as Ramie. 

ENEMIES. 

As far as is known. Ramie has no destructive enemy 
to prey upon it, such as worms, parasites, etc., and from the 
nature of the plant it is not probable that it ever will have. 
If any damage has ever been done to the stalks it has not 
been perceptible, but were the destruction of the leaves as 
great as those caused by the cotton worm, it could result in 
no great damage to the stalks, and if it occurred near the 
time for harvest, it would greatly aid the process of decor- 
tication. 



51 

NOT SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY DROUGHTS. 

Ramie is a plant that is not seriously affected by 
drought, standing prolonged dry seasons far better than 
many of the staple crops of the South — cotton, for instance. 

The following statement, furnished by Felix Fremercy, 
an actiye and zealous promoter of American fibre culture, 
forcibly illustrates the luxuriance with which Ramie grows 
in our Southern States, and its ability to withstand drought: 

"In July, 1887, a Texas planter set out several thousand 
roots. The next spring each root sent forth thirty or forty 
sprouts which grew with rapidity. But early in July a 
drought began which lasted nine weeks. During this pe- 
riod, so great was the intensity of the heat that the soil was 
dried to a depth of more than two feet. Hundreds of thou- 
sands of cotton plants perished, but the Ramie survived the 
drought, and, quickened by the fall rains, grew with such 
luxuriance that often 150 stems were found in clusters not 
more than two feet in diameter. In one instance 168 stalks 
sprung from a single mass of roots. The plants grew so 
rapidly that, fourteen days after the cutting of the mature 
stems, the new sprouts were thirty inches high." 

THE MACHINERY QUESTION. 

Much has been said and written regarding Ramie and 
the fact is generally well understood, that the chief impedi- 
ment which has stood in the way of the extensive cultivation 
of this plant for profit, outside of China, has been the want 
of machinery and processes for producing the fibre in a fin- 
ished condition for the spinner at a minimum cost. 

China and Japan are at 'present the only sources of sup- 
ply for Ramie, where the fibre is decorticated by hand, a 
Chinese laborer producing no more than three pounds in a 
day. The price of Ramie ribbons is, therefore, high, and the 
sup]>ly entirely inadequate to the demand. The assertion 
has been made that the products of 100,000 spindles would 
not meet the wants of France alone. A few years asro Sen- 
ator Feray publicly stated that the manufacturers of France 
were ready to make contracts with American planters for 
a. sunnly of 20,000.000 pounds of Ramie' a month. 

The irreat demand nnd the constantly increasing popu- 
larity of this beautiful fibre has acted as an incentive to in- 
ventors to produce methods for the extraction of the fibre 
in large and paying quantities, further stimulus in this di- 
rection has been given by Governments, corporations, nnd 
individuals, who have offered Inrce prizes for the production 
of successful decorticators. The French Government offer- 
ing $100,000, and the Indian Government $125,000, for a 



52 

solution of the problem. During the past twenty years more 
than 100 Ramie decorticators have been invented in this 
country and Europe, while many have shown some merit 
and gradual progress has been noted toward the solving 
of this difficult question, it is only within a recent date that 
complete and successful processes, both mechanical and of 
degumming, have been perfected. 

In our own country, Mr. Samuel B. Allison, of New 
Orleans, La., a gentleman who has given the Ramie question 
his almost constant study for a long series of years, has pro- 
duced a decorticator, and also a degumming process, that 
may be said to be an entire success. He now claims, and 
has already demonstrated in numerous public trials, being 
ready to prove it again to the satisfaction of the most skep- 
tical, that he can produce Ramie fibre in a perfect and fin- 
ished condition for manufacture, at less cost than sea island 
cotton can be produced for. 

The following description of Allison's Improved Decor- 
ticator, or Machine No. 2, is taken Bulletin No. 32 of the 
Louisiana Experiment Stations: 

"It consists of a series) of pressure rollers, reciprocating 
brakes, rotary scutchings and combing devices combined 
with feed and off-bearing carriers mounted on a strong cast- 
iron frame. The Ramie stalks are fed into the machine by 
means of an endless feed carrier. The first set of rollers 
are corrugated, and crush and split the stems, the second 
are smooth and crush the stalks, back of the latter is a de- 
flecting plate that turns the feed downward, when it meets 
again the action of a third set of smooth crushing rollers, 
which further reduce the stems and firmly hold and feed 
gradually to a reciprocating brake and scutching blades, 
where it is caught by a 'set of grip rollers. The rear end of 
the fibrous curtain as it descends is thrown out upon a set 
of deflecting plates and trra dually drawn downward and one 
end subjected to the action of a set of scutching and comb- 
ing cylinders, where the rear end is again subjected to the 
action of the first set of scutching cylinders. The fibrous 
curtain descends in a. perpendicular, and both sides are 
acted upon, while the rear end as it descends is subjected to 
the action of both sets of scutching and combing cylinders 
and is delivered to the off-bearing carrier in ribbons." 

Another machine, owned by the Textile Syndicate of 
London, England, has been shown to possess great merit, 
and to have the ability of performing the work of decorti- 
cation rapidly and in a verv satisfactorv manner. 
RATVUE MACHINE TRIAT>S. 

The Allison machines and that of the Textile Syndicate, 
were tested in public trials, held at the Louisiana Sugar 



63 

Experiment Station, Audubon Park, New Orleans, La., in 
October and December, 1894, 

The committee of experts appointed by the Station to 
conduct and witness the trials were as follows: 

Hon. Charles Richards Dodj?e, Special^ Agent in charge 
of Fibre Investigations, United States Department of Ag- 
riculture. 

Professor S. M. Tracy, Director Mississippi Experiment 
Station. 

Dr. W. C. Stubbs, Director Louisiana Sugar Experiment 
Station. 

The work performed by both machines was very satis- 
factory, and far in advance of that done by any machines 
heretofore produced, as the following extracts from the re- 
port of the committee will attest: 

"The large Allison machine delivers its fibre in good 
condition and better cleaned, but its immense size and the 
power that it takes to run it, precludes the possibility of 
its being used in the field upon small experiments. In the 
small machine the size is considerably reduced without de- 
stroying its efficiency, in order to adapt its work to the field, 
and to be run by >a smaller power. 

"The committee desires to call special attention to the 
fact that in trials on green Ramie the stalks were not denu- 
ded of leaves, while in the trials of two years ago the stalks 
used by the three machines under test were required to be 
stripped.. The Textile Syndicate machine without and the 
Allison machine with saturation, in the present tests ran 
continuously without gumming, fouling or breaking in any 
part, and gave evidence of ability to 'meet any demand in 
continuous running that might be made upon them." 

It may be added that since the aforementioned trials 
took place, both machines have been materially improved, 
by reason of suggestions made at the time of the trials, and 
that the machine problem may be now considered well 
solved. 

DEGUMMING PROCESSES. 

There are several companies having degumming pro- 
cesses, and notably among these are the Jones & Warr Com- 
pany, of Paterson, N. J. ; the Perseverance Fibre Company, 
of New Orleans, La.; M. Favier, Valobre, France, and the 
Boyle Fibre Syndicate, of London, which proposes to oper- 
ate in this coiintrv; all have their own process for treating 
the fibre and preparintj- it for manufacture, and will employ 
them in the near future. 
RAMIE FIBRE AND ITS USES IN MANUFACTURE. 

The fibre from Ramie is beautiful, long, silky and 



54 

strong, closely resembling? silk in lustre and strength. It 
can be used as an adulterant or be entirely substitued for 
it in the manufacture of fine textiles. Goods like worsteds 
are made from it, and it forms an excellent adjunct to wool 
in the manufacture of fine cassimeres and w^oolens, improv- 
ing the strength and appearance of these goods. Table- 
cloths, na])kins, etc., are made from it that excel in lustre 
the best of Irish linen; also delicate laces, velvets, damasks, 
and brocades of brilliancy unsurpassed by any other ma- 
terial except it be silk. In fact, there is no end, apparently, 
of the uses to which this fibre can be put. It has three times 
the strength of Russian flax and double that of the best 
Holland, Belgian or Irish varieties. 

In United States Department of Agriculture Fibre Re- 
port No. 7, Mr. Dodge has the following interesting state- 
ment of the use of Ramie fibre in manufacture : 

"What are the goods manufactured? Regarding the 
work at Valobre, the Department is informed that it pro- 
duces special threads for lace, passementerie, linen fabrics, 
and other products of a higher grade, in which the price of 
the materials is of less importance while waiting until the 
abundance and cheapness of the raw material will permit 
the introduction of threads for coarser goods for which there 
will be a large demand. For linen goods Ramie is particu- 
larly applicable on account of its great resistance, both with 
regard to washing and the w^ear. The most important 
hotels and railway companies of France are said to have 
entirelv adopted the use of Ramie. The City of Paris has 
also adopted tliis linen for the service of it twenty arron- 
dissements. It is ordered for the dressing of wounds in 
several hospitals, including those of the army and navy. The 
Minister of War employs it for the cordage of balloons, pow- 
der sacks, etc., and the Rank of France now uses nothing 
else for the manufacture of its notes but the Ramie sup- 
plied by the Valobre factory; it has been found the new 
bank note of Ramie to be finer, -more durable and capable 
of receiving a better impression — consequently rendering 
forgery of the notes much more difficult, if not impossible. 

"As to the possibilities of Ramie manufacture, there 
seems to be no limit. Stuffed c'oods for men's wear, uphol- 
sterv. curtains, laces and embroideries, plushes and velvets, 
stockiners, sheetings, sails, duck, carpets, cordage, fishing 
nets, and varus and threads for various uses not enumer- 
ated." 

RAMIE CAN STTpri;Y THF PLACE OF ?\TOST OF THE 
TEXTILE FIBRES NOW LMPORTED. 

It is estimated that thp annual importations into the 
United States of fibres, wool, worsteds and woolen goods, 



55 

silk and its manufactures, together with flax and linen 
goods, amount in round numbers to |150,000,000. Ramie 
hbre that can take the place of most of this, and largely 
with our products of wool and silk, equal or excel much of 
it in durability and finish. 

PRICES AND COST OF PRODUCING FLAX. 

Recent quotations show rthat it now costs |235 per ton 
to lay down Russian flax in New York, while the Holland, 
Belgian and Irish varieties are worth more than double thai 
amount in Liverpool, they would cost in this country, duties 
paid, close to 30 cents per pound. The United States Con- 
sular Report for July, 1894, mentions flax as selling in Hol- 
land for £100 per ton, or little more than 23 cents per pound. 
The same report also places the actual cost of producing flax 
of all grades, the world over, to average 15 cents per pound. 

SUPERIORITY OF RAMIE OVER FLAX. 

Ramie fibre is far superior to flax in every respect, and 
is capable of being converted into all classes of goods that 
are now made from flax. It is the opinion of those who are 
qualifled to express themselves understandingly on this 
subject, that when Ramie fibre can be produced in suflicient 
quantities it will entirely supplant flax and stop its cultiva- 
tion. 

RAMIE FIBRE PECULIAR TO ITSELF. 

Ramie fibre is unique in itself, and possesses qualities 
found in no other fibre of either the animal or vegetable 
kingdom. The great resistant powers of Ramie and its abil- 
ity withstands the effects of water without shrinking, 
stretching or rotting, will, no doubt, cause iti to find its way 
into many special articles of manufacture, when its abun- 
dant production shall make this admissible. The non-rot- 
ting powers of Ramie will make it exceedingly valuable for 
roof covering and similar articles, to be used in like exposed 
situations. It has already been used for sail cloth for yachts 
where expense was a matter of secondary consideration, 
as in the case of the contestants for the "America's Cup," 
in the great international yacht races of 1895, both "De- 
fender" and "Valkyrie III" used sails made wholly or in 
part from Ramie cloth. In fact, as has been previously sta- 
ted, the possibilities of Ramie are practically without limi- 
tation. 

OVERPRODUCTION. 

Overproduction with Ramie, as is the frequent occur- 
rence with perishable fruits and many other commodities, 



56 

will at least be impossible, and no fears ever need be in the 
way from this cause. A j^entleman who recently visited New 
Orleans, in the interest of Northern capital, to investigate 
Mr. Allison's inventions, in an interview published in the 
New Orleans Picayune, expressed himself as follows on the 
question of overproduction: "As to the market for Ramie 
fibre, you may turn your entire cotton acreage into Ramie 
and yet fail to supply the |300,000,000 worth that foreign 
and American manufacturers will use as soon as they can de- 
pend upon a regular supply. There is no guess work about 
this. The English Government has stated that such an 
amount in value would be required. You must remember 
that China has hitherto supplied the world practically, but 
The English, French and Austrian factories are unable to get 
it as required. With Mr. Allison's machine in general use, the 
Chinese cannot compete in amount, quality or price. The 
best Ramie known grows in the Southern Gulf States." 

FLORIDA SOIL AND CLIMATE ADAPTED TO RAMIE. 

The soil and climate of South Florida is pre-eminently 
suited to the successful cultivation of Ramie. As has been 
previously stated, the requirements, to insure best results, 
being a light sandy or alluvial soil. A large proportion of 
the State may be said to be a vast alluvial deposit, of great 
fertility, as is evidenced by the magnificent crops of all de- 
scriptions that are so easily produced. The vast areas of 
saw grass, muck and low flat-woods lands that can be easily 
drained, would be the par excellence of Ramie lands. These 
lands are not easily affected by drought, and the growth 
of the plant would be continuous, or nearly so, as there are 
only short intervals that its growth would be retarded from 
any cause in the southern half of Peninsula Florida. The 
lands of Florida are easy of cultivation, one horse or mule 
being able to perform as much work as three in many of the 
agricultural districts of the country. i 

The climate of Florida, as adapted to the successful 
cultivation of Ramie, may be said to be equally as propitious 
as the soil, being warm and humid, with rare extremes of 
cold, to do injury, south of the 28th degree of north latitude. 
In this portion of the State, three crops of Ramie would 
always be assured, and in a majority of years, four crops 
would be obtained. By reason of its peculiar maritime situ- 
ation, the climate of Peninsula Florida is naturally moist, 
and prolonged visitations of drought, as are frequent in the 
more inland situations of the country, are unknown. In 
j»robably no State of the Union is the rainfall more evenly 
distributed and regular than in Florida; hence the reason of 



57 

no excessive floods or prolonged dry seasons, to cause in- 
jury to growing crops. From the foregoing it may fairly be 
assumed that in no other part of the country where Ramie 
has been cultivated are the conditions more favorable for 
success with it than in South Florida. 

RAMIE A HIGHLY PROFITABLE CROP FOR FLORIDA. 

There is probably no crop that can be grown in Florida 
soil that can be made more remunerative, and with less cost 
of labor and anxiety, than Ramie. In point of labor, it is 
the most inexpensive of all crops to produce one planting 
lasting for a long term of years, and with proper cultivation 
and suitable returns made to the soil, it would be practically 
inexhaustible. The cultivation of Ramie is an industry that 
small farmers may take up with the most flattering promises 
of success. Ramie has been said to be pre-eminently a poor 
man's crop, with no more difficulties and expense attending 
its cultivation than the management of a crop of corn. With 
twenty acres of Ramie, a Florida farmer would have a cer- 
tain and constant source of income that should make him 
one of the most independent of that class who obtain their 
livelihood by agi'icultural pursuits. 

The cultivation of Ramie is destined to become an im- 
portant Florida industry and a great source of wealth to 
tlie State. The time was never more opportune than the 
present for farmers to secure a few roots and seeds and com- 
mence the propagation of roots and plants for larger opera- 
tions, and at the same time make themselves familiar with 
the best methods of cultivation. 




Top of Ramie Plant, Showing Seeds. 




Leaf of Ramie Plant. 



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